MICHAEL AKINOLA
A security guard, Idris Kabiru, 43 and a driver, Jubril Ibrahim, 51, are in trouble for allegedly arranging two Mobile Police officers to steal a bag containing both Naira and foreign currency worth over N22m at Dangote Refinery in Akodo, Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was revealed following the arrest of Kabiru and Ibrahim by Police operatives from the Commissioner of Police Special Squad, Ikeja, Lagos.
Also arrested were the two Police officers identified as Sani and Abdullahi, who reportedly came all the way from Sokoto State to Lagos State because of the operation and one Zakari was also mentioned to be part of the gang members.
The victim, Huzaifa Ibrahim, runs a mini market outlet with few workers at the refinery and supplies local goods and services to foreigners, who patronize him with different currencies.
The two suspects, Kabiru and Ibrahim, were said to have monitored how the owner manages money including the coming and going of the money and where he usually keeps money inside the outlet.
The suspects reportedly engaged the Police officers, who went there in the evening, created scene, arrested the three workers in the outlet and took them away without locking the place.
The two key suspects, Ibrahim and Kabiru, were said to have gone to the place where the bag containing the money was kept, carried both the bag and the money and escaped. Among the money stolen inside the bag included N9m, $7,400 Dollars and £2000 Pounds belonging to Ibrahim.
When the workers were eventually released by the Police officers, they went where the bag was kept but it was no longer there. The matter was reported to the Police at Akodo Division. The suspects were arrested and transferred to the Police Command headquarters at Ikeja for further investigation.
During the investigation, the Police reportedly recovered some money from Ibrahim and the bag containing the missing money before he finally opened up and implicated other suspects.
Having been found culpable, the Police consequently charged Kabiru and Ibrahim before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy and stealing, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubenije, granted them bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment and addresses verified by the Court.
The defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 12th March, 2024, for mention.
On the fate of the two Mobile Police officers, they were said to be undergoing trials within the Police Disciplinary Committee. And if the Police authority finds them culpable, they may likely be dismissed and subsequently charged before Court for the alleged offence.